Monthly archive:

Materials for Architecture 2018 | 25-26 April 2018 | ILEC, London

After a successful debut event in April 2017 that attracted over 1,000 visitors and 40 exhibitors, Materials for Architecture is returning to the ILEC Centre in West London on 25 and 26 April 2018.

Embracing the event’s ethos of innovation in the development and specification of products for architecture, construction, and design, Materials for Architecture 2018 will bring opportunities for visitors and exhibitors alike to learn, be inspired, and network.

Promoted by major organisations in the UK Timber Industry such as the Confederation of Timber Industries (CTI), the Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Wood for Good, Materials 2018 features conferences, an exhibition area and a wide array of CPD seminars.

A particular focus will be set on the innovative development and application of materials for architecture and construction, from structure to finishes.

IOM3 'Timber 2018' Conference | 26-27 June 2018 | London

On 26 and 27 June 2018 the Wood Technology Society of the Institute for Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) will hold its 'Timber 2018' conference presenting the latest trends and emerging research in timber, wood science and related fields.

The event - to take place at IOM3 headquarters in London - aims to bring together wood scientists, technologists, and businesses from all areas of the timber industry. Topics will range from preservation to panel products and from modified wood to engineered timber. There will also be room for insights on nano-scale researches and industrial application and development of new products.

"It has been ten years since the last Institute of Wood Science conference in Bath in 2008," say the Organisers in a press release. "During this time the timber industry has recovered from recession; seen growth in modified woods, wood plastic composites and CLT; adapted to the restriction of CCA and many other preservatives and marvelled at the advent of tall timber buildings. Meanwhile researchers have been developing new testing techniques; advanced models of cell wall structure and mechanics; grading models for British species and new biobased adhesives, among others."

"It is high time for a conference to bring these many areas of timber research under one roof to share information and ideas. This new format conference will span all topics related to timber, ranging from the fundamental experiments understanding the nano-scale through to the industrial application and development of new products."

The Wood Technology Society has also launched a Call for Papers. The event will provide a forum to present academic and industrial research in timber. Abstracts of up to 600 words for both oral and poster presentations are requested by 16th February 2018.

For more info and registration, Contact the conference organisers on [email protected]

Offsite Construction Awards are back! - Entries open until 3 January 2018

The only Awards specifically focused on offsite construction are back for 2018, with submissions for innovative projects open until Wednesday 3rd January 2018.

Organised by Radar Communications and promoted by the CTI, the 2018 Offsite Construction Awards will take place on the evening of 6 March as a part of Ecobuild in the main Arena at ExCeL in London, and are set to attract over 350 national business leaders and high profile decision makers from the across the mainstream construction and offsite manufacturing industry.

Entries last year exceeded 300 and the event organisers are in no doubt that this will grow in 2018. The original award categories range from specific material and systems; such as Best use of Concrete, Steel, Timber, Volumetric Technology, to sectors including Commercial Project of the Year, Housing Project of the Year, Infrastructure Project of the Year and Education Project of the Year.

To cater for an increasing demand, and to reflect the wider adoption of offsite technology, seven new categories have been introduced for 2018 which focus on the people at the heart of these cutting edge projects, including Architect of the Year, Contractor of the Year, Installer of the Year and Client of the Year.

The Awards are open to public and private organisations with projects located in the UK – with the business or project having a strong offsite construction theme. All 22 categories are free to enter at http://www.offsiteawards.co.uk/enter

New Charter for Trees to be launched at Lincoln Castle on 6 November 2017

On Monday 6 November 2017, on the 800th anniversary of the 1217 Charter of the Forest, the new Charter for Trees, Woods and People will be launched at Lincoln Castle – home to one of the two remaining 1217 Charters of the Forest. It will then rest in the Lincolnshire Archives.

After a gathering on Castle Hill at around 5pm, a lantern procession into Lincoln Castle will unveil the Tree Charter Champion Pole representing the Tree Charter. The pole is carved by artist Simon Clements from Grown in Britain oak, showcasing words by poet Harriet Fraser. Visitors can also view the Charter for Trees, Woods and People, written in oak gall ink by calligrapher Patricia Lovett, alongside the 1217 Charter of the Forest in the Castle's Magna Carta vault.

Following this will be an opportunity to sign the Tree Charter, talks at Speakers’ Corner, live music, woodcrafts, artwork by Assemble, and a historical exhibition of the 1217 Charter of the Forest.

The call for a Tree Charter was initiated in 2015 by the Woodland Trust in response to the crisis facing trees and woods in the UK. It aims at "building a people-powered movement for trees." More than 70 organisations (including the Confederation of Timber Industries) and 300 local community groups answered the call and helped to collect over 60,000 tree stories from people across the UK, demonstrating the important role that trees play in their lives. These stories were read and shared, and helped to define the 10 Principles of the Tree Charter, ensuring that it stands for every tree and every person in the UK.

Nature: Thriving habitats for diverse species;

Planting: Planting for the future

Arts & Heritage: Celebrating the cultural impacts of trees

Utility & Livelihoods: A thriving forestry sector that delivers for the UK

Protection: Better protection for important trees and woods

Planning: Enhancing new developments with trees

Health & Wellbeing: Understanding and using the natural health benefits of trees

People & Access to Trees: Access to trees for everyone

Coping with Threats: Addressing threats to woods and trees through good management

Environment: Strengthening landscapes with woods and trees

Over 100,000 people have already pledged their support to the Tree Charter. Click here to sign the petition.

Montréal Wood Convention 2018 to be held from 20 to 22 March 2018

The event program includes a half-day conference for the softwood and wood construction sectors, a half-day conference for the hardwood sector, two half days dedicated to contacts in the exhibit hall and an executive tech seminar directed towards the softwood and hardwood sawmills’ top management.